Leg-rest actuating linkage for multiple-position reclining chairs



Oct. 10, 1961 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 3,003,814

LEG-REST ACTUATING LINKAGE FOR MULTIPLE-POSITION RECLINING CHAIRS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 11, 1959 IN V EN TOR.

FE/DTJOF Fl 5 C All. lfpllACkf xrrraglvcys Oct. 10, 1961 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 3,003,

LEG-REST ACTUATING LINKAGE FOR MULTIPLE-POSITION RECLINING CHAIRS Filed Aug. 11, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

FR/DTJOF E JCHL/[PHA-CKE 3,003,814 LEG-REST ACTUA'HNG LINKAGE FGR lWUL- TIPLE-POSITION RECLINING CHAIRS Fridthof F. Schliephacke, Berlin-Schmargendorf, Germany, assignor to Anton Lorenz Filed Aug. 11, 1959, Ser. No. 832,974 6 Claims. (01. 29788) The present invention relates to improvements in reclining chairs of the multiple-position type in which a rigid seat and back-rest unit is mounted on a support frame for movement to Several distinct tilted positions, and in particular relates to a leg-rest actuating linkage for such type of chair.

An example of a multiple-position chair is the two' position chair in which a body-supporting unit, comprising a seat and back-rest formed rigidly with each other, is mounted on a support frame for rearward movement to an intermediate tilted position and then to a fully-tilted position. The chair also includes a leg-rest which is mounted for movement from a retracted position beneath the seat to an extended position forwardly of the seat. Leg-rest actuating means is associated with the body-supporting unit and is adapted to raise the leg-rest to its extended position in response to rearward movement of the body-supporting unit to its intermediate tilted position. The leg-rest must be brought to is extended position when the body-supporting unit is tilted to its immediate position, and must then be maintained in leg-supporting position when the unit is further moved to its fully-tilted position. The intermediate position of the body-supporting unit is a slightlytilted active position with the occupants body in a substantially upright attitude suitable for viewing television, talking, reading or the like. In such position, the leg-rest has already moved to an extended position for supporting the occupants outstretched legs. The body-supporting unit can then, when desired, be tilted further to an inactive, fully-tilted position in which the occupants body is supported in a more supine or recumbent position for greater relaxation. In this fullytilted position, the leg-rest is still extended in a legsupporting position.

In operation of such two-position reclining chairs, the leg-rest must be moved through a relatively long path of movement in response to short movement of the body-supporting unit from its sitting position to its intermediate tilted position. On the other hand, the legrest must still assume a leg-supporting position in the fully-tilted position of the body-supporting unit. This renders the construction of the leg-rest actuating linkage diliicult, since the original accelerated movement of the leg-rest must be interrupted during the second phase of movement of the body-supporting unit toward its fully-tilted position.

It is an object of the present invention to provide legrest actuating means for advancing the leg-rest rapidly to an extended leg-supponting position when the bodysupporting unit is moved to the intermediate tilted position and for maintaining the leg-rest immovably in its extended position with no further relative movement between the leg-rest and seat when the body-supporting unit is further advanced to its fully-tilted position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of leg-rest actuating means of the character described which includes a minimum number of parts and is simple in construction and operation, thereby providing eifective operation with appreciable economies in manufacture.

In accordance with the invention, the leg-rest actuating means is provided in a reclining chair having a support frame, a body-supporting unit, a carrier member pivotally mounted on the support frame, a pair of guide 3,003,814 Patented Oct. 10, 1961 links carrying the body-supporting unit and pivotally mounted on the carrier member for moving the body supporting unit from an upright sitting position to an intermediate tilted position in which the guide links become rigid with the carrier member. The carrier member is then movable on the support frame and carries the body-supporting unit from the intermediate tilted position to a fully-tilted position. A leg-rest is operatively mounted on the forward end of the carrier member, and the actuating means comprises a drive link connecting the leg-rest with one of the guide links for movement of the leg-rest to an extended leg-supporting position when the body-supporting unit is tilted relative to the carrier member.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and shown in section, of a reclining chair incorporating one form of leg-rest actuating means made in accordance with the invention, the chair being shown in an upright sitting position.

FIG. 2 is a similar side elevational view showing the chair of FIG. 1 in its intermediate tilted position with the leg-rest extended in its leg-supporting position;

FIG. 3 is a similar side elevational view showing the chair of FIGS. 1 and 2 in its fully-tilted position; FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and shown in section, of a reclining chair incorporating a modified type of leg-rest actuating means made in accordance with the invention, the chair being shown in its upright sitting position.

Referring now specifically to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1-3, the reclining chair shown therein comprises a support frame designated generally by the reference numeral 1t) and having spaced side walls 12 interconnected by cross bars or braces 14 and 16. The chair structure also includes a body-supporting unit designated generally by the reference numeral 18 and comprising a seat 20 and a back-rest 22 formed rigidly with each other. The body-supporting unit 18 is movably mounted on the support frame 10 for movement relative thereto from the upright sitting position of FIG. 1 to the active intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2, and then to an inactive fully-tilted position shown in FIG. 3. The mounting of the body-supporting unit 18 in the support frame 10 is accomplished by a pair of guide links 24 and 26.

The chair also includes a carrier member in the form of an elongated support bar 30 which has a rear leg 32 and an upwardly-angled front leg 34. The rear leg 32 is mounted at its rear end by pivot 36 on the support frame 10. The front guide link 24 is connected at its upper end by pivot 38 to the lower portion of the seat 20, while the upper end of the rear guide link 26 is con nected by pivot 40 to a point on seat 20 spaced rearwardly from the pivot 38. At their lower ends, the guide links 24 and 26 are mounted at spaced points on the carrier member rear leg 32 by respective pivots 42 and 44.

The chair also includes a leg-rest 46, the structure of which includes a bar 48 affixed thereto and mounted by pivot 50 on the free end of the carrier member front link 34. An intermediate portion of the leg-rest bar 48 is connected by pivot 52 to the forward end of a drive link 54. The rear guide link 26 also has a lower terminal portion 26a extending below its pivotal mount 44 on the carrier member 30. This terminal portion 26a is connected by pivot 56 to the rear end of the drive link 54.

In the upright sitting position of the chair shown in FIG. 1, the carrier member 30 rests upon the front cross bar 14 to support the body-supporting unit 18 in the sitting position under the weight of the occupant. The guide links 24 and 26 are in an upright position and slightly forwardly inclined, and the leg-rest 46 in a retracted position extending downwardly beneath the forward end of the seat 20.

When the occupant of the chair exerts rearward pressure against the back-rest 22, the guide links 24 and 26 turn rearwardly about the pivotal mounts 42 and 44 on the carrier member 30 to bring the body-supporting unit 18 to its intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2. In this connection, it will be noted that the front guide link 24 is forwardly inclined at a greater angle than the rear guide link 26, so that the front guide link raises the forward portion of the seat 20 while the rear guide link 26 lowers the rear portion of said seat. The seat 20 is therefore moved rearwardly and tilted rearwardly, but only to a slight extent.

The intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2 is determined by the engagement of the rear guide link 26 with a stop member 58 formed rigidly on the rear end portion of the carrier member rear leg 32, the stop member 58 preventing further turning movement of the guide links 24 and 26 relative to the carrier member 30. Thus, in the intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2, the bodysupporting unit 18 is rigidly coupled to the carrier member 30.

As the guide links 24 and 26 turn rearwardly about their pivotal mounts 42 and 44, the lower terminal portion 26a of the rear guide link 26 moves forwardly relative to immovable carrier member 30. This forward movement of the rear guide link extension 26a carries the drive link 54 in an upward and forward direction. The drive link 54 thus in turn exerts a pushing force upon the leg-rest bar 48 at pivot point 52, causing the bar 48 to swing upwardly about its pivotal mount 50 on the carrier member 30, and thereby raising the leg-rest 46 to its extended position of FIG. 2 wherein it is positioned to support the legs of the chair occupant.

It will be observed that in the active or intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2, the body-supporting unit 18 is only slightly tilted and the occupants body is supported in a substantially upright attitude suitable for reading, viewing television, or the like. At the same time the legrest 46 is fully extended and properly positioned to support the outstretched legs of the occupant.

If the occupant of the chair, in the intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2, wishes to assume a more reclined position for greater relaxation, he need only apply further remward pressure against the back-rest 22, to bring the body-supporting unit 18 to the fully-tilted position of FIG. 3. The guide links 24 and 26 can no longer turn rearwardly relative to the carrier member 30, and any further movement must therefore be that of carrier member 30 about its fixed pivotal mount 36. The rearward shift of the occupants weight changes the center of gravity of the body-supporting unit and causes the carrier member 30 to turn in a clock-wise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3, about said pivotal mount 36. The forward end of the carrier member 30 is therefore raised relative to the support frame 10, and since the bodysupporting unit 18 is now rigidly coupled to the carrier member 30, it is turned with said carrier member further rearwardly about the fixed pivot 36 to the fully reclined position shown in FIG. 3. This position is determined and limited by engagement of the rear-end portion of the seat 20 with the rear cross bar 16.

Since the body-supporting unit 18 is rigidly coupled with the carrier member 30 by engagement of the rear guide link 26 with the stop plate 58, there is no relative movement of the body-supporting unit and carrier member during this second phase of movement from the intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2 to the fully-tilted position of FIG. 3. The leg-rest 46 is therefore maintained irnmovably in its extended position when the bodysupporting unit arrives at the fully-tilted position, as is shown in FIG. 3.

To return from the fully-tilted position to the intermediate position the occupant merely shifts his Weight forwardly, thereby shifting forward the center of gravity of the body-supporting unit and causing the latter to turn forwardly about the pivot 36 until it again reaches the intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2. To return from the intermediate tilted position to the upright sitting position, the occupant need merely apply downward pressure with his legs upon the leg-rest 46, this pressure causing the body-supporting unit 18 to move forwardly on the guide links 24 and 26.

Referring now specifically to FIG. 4, there is shown a reclining chair incorporating a modified type of leg-rest actuating means made in accordance with the invention, and similar in operation to the previous embodiment, except that the drive link is actuated by an extension of the front guide link instead of the rear guide link. Similar parts are given like reference numerals, except in this instance the numerals are part of series. The chair illustrated in FIG. 4 again comprises a support frame designated generally by the reference numeral 110, which includes spaced side walls 112 inter-connected by cross bars or braces 114 and 116. Again the chair also includes a body-supporting unit, designated generally by the reference numeral 118, and comprising a seat 120 and a back-rest 122 formed rigidly with each other. The body-supporting unit 118 is movably mounted by a pair of guide links 124 and 126 on a carrier member 130 for movement relative thereto from the upright sitting position, illustrated in FIG. 4, to an active intermediate tilted position, and the carrier member 130 is then movable relative to the support frame to carry the bodysupporting unit to an inactive fully-tilted position. The two-tilted positions are not shown in the drawings, but have been previously illustrated and described in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3.

The carrier member 130 has a front leg 134 and a rear leg 132, the latter being mounted at its rear end by pivot 136 on the support frame 110. The pair of guide links 124 and 126 are pivotally connected at spaced points on the seat by respective pivots 138 and 140. The front guide link 124 is mounted by pivot 142 on the carrier member rear leg 132, while the lower end of the rear guide link 126 is mounted on the pivot 136 which also connects the carrier member to the support frame 110.

The chair also includes the leg-rest 146 carried by a bar 148 which is mounted at its free end by pivot 150 on the free end of the carrier member front leg 134. The intermediate portion of bar 148 is connected by pivot 152 to the forward end of a drive link 154. The rear end of the drive link 154 is connected by pivot 156 to a terminal portion 124a of the front guide link 124 which projects downwardly below the pivotal mount 142 on the'carrier member 130.

In the upright sitting position of the chair shown in FIG. 4, the carrier member rear leg 132 rests upon the front cross-bar 114 to provide a rigid support for the body-supporting unit 118. The guide links 124 and 126 are in an upright position and are slightly forwardly inclined, while the leg-rest 142 is in a retracted position extending downwardly beneath the forward end of the seat 120.

When the occupant of the chair exerts rearward pressure against the back-rest 122, the guide links 124 and 126 turn rearwardly about the pivotal mounts 142 and 136 relative to the carrier member 130 to bring the bodysupporting unit 118 to its intermediate tilted position. This intermediate tilted position is determined by the engagement of the front guide link 124 with a stop plate 158 on an intermediate tilted position the body-supporting unit 118 is rigidly coupled to said carrier member 130.

As the body-supporting unit 118 is moved rearwardly to its intermediate tilted position, the front guide link 124 turns reawardly about its pivot 142 on the carrier member 1341, thereby thrusting its depending extension 124a forwardly relative to the carrier member. The drive link 154 is therefore moved forwardly and upwardly, exerting a pushing force on the leg-rest bar 148, and thereby raising the leg-rest 146 to its extended leg-supporting position.

In the active or intermediate tilted position, the bodysupporting unit 118 is only slightly tilted and in a position to support the occupants body in a substantially upright attitude. At the same time, the leg-rest 146 is fully extended and properly positioned to support the out stretched legs of the occupant.

When the occupant applies further rearward pressure against the back-rest, the body-supporting unit 118 is brought to a fully-tilted position, similar to that shown in FIG. 3. In this second phase of movement, the carrier member 13% turns about its pivotal mount 136. The forward end of the carrier member 130 is therefore raised relative to the support frame 110, and since the bodsupporting unit 118 is now rigidly coupled to the carrier member 136', said body-supporting unit is tilted further rearwardly about the fixed pivot 136 to a fully reclined position which is determined by engagement of the rear portion of the seat 1261 with the rear cross bar 116.

During the movement of the body-supporting unit 118 from the intermediate tilted position to the fully tilted position, said unit 118 is rigidly coupled with the carrier member 13% by engagement of the front guide link 12. with the stop plate 158, and there is thus no relative movement of the rear guide link and carrier member during this second phase of movement. The leg-rest is therefore maintained immovable in its extended position when the body-supporting reaches its fully-tilted position.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described herein, it is obvious that numerous additions, changes and omissions may be made in such embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a multiple position reclining chair having a support frame, a carrier member movably mounted on the support frame, a body-supporting unit including a rigidlyformed seat and back-rest, front and rear guide links pivotally mounted on the carrier member and pivotally connected to spaced points on the seat for rearward movement of the body-supporting unit relative to the carrier member during a first motion phase, the carrier member being then movable relative to the support frame during a second motion phase; a leg-rest structure swingably mounted on the forward end portion of the carrier member, and leg-rest actuating means for moving the leg-rest from a retracted position beneath the seat to an extended position forwardly of the seat in response to movement of the body-supporting unit during said first motion phase, said actuating means including an extension of one of said guide links projecting beyond the pivotal mount of said guide link on said carrier member, and a control link connecting said link extension with said leg-rest structure.

2. In a multiple position reclining chair having a support frame, a body-supporting unit including a rigidlyformed seat and back-rest, a carrier member movably mounted on the support frame, and front and rear guide links movably mounting the body-supporting unit on the carrier member, with the body-supporting unit being moved rearwardly by said guide links relative to the carrier member during a first motion phase, and with the carrier member moving relative to the support during a second motion phase; a leg-rest, means swingably mount ing the leg-rest on the forward end portion of the carrier member, and actuating means for moving the leg-rest from a retracted position beneath the seat to an extended position forwardly of the seat in response to movement of the body-supporting unit relative to the carrier member during said first motion phase, said actuating means including an extension of one of said guide links projecting below the pivotal mount of said guide link on said carrier member, and a control link connecting said link extension with said leg-rest mounting means at a point below the connection of said mounting means with said carrier member, the extension moving forwardly relative to the carrier member when said one guide turns during the first motion phase to move the leg-rest to its extended position, said extension seat and guide links moving with the carrier member and maintaining an immovable position relative to the carrier member during said second motion phase whereby the leg-rest is retained in its extended position relative to the seat.

3. A multiple position reclining chair comprising a support frame, a body-supporting unit including a rigidlyformed seat and back-rest, a carrier member pivotally mounted on the support frame, and a front guide link and a rear guide link pivotally mounted at spaced points on the carrier member and pivotally connected at spaced points on the body-supporting unit for rearward movement of the body-supporting unit relative to the carrier member during a first motion phase in which said guide links pivot rearwardly, means blocking movement of the guide links relative to the carrier member at the end of the first motion phase, the carrier member being then turnable about its pivotal mount on the support frame during a second motion phase and carrying said guide links and body-supporting unit, a leg-rest structure swingably mounted on the forward end portion of the carrier member, and leg-rest actuating means for moving the legrest from a retracted position to an extended position forwardly of the seat in response to movement of the body-supporting unit relative to the carrier member during said first motion phase, said actuating means including a depending extension of one of said guide links projecting beyond the pivotal mount of said one guide link on said carrier member, and a control link connecting said guide link extension with said leg-rest structure, said extension turning with said one guide link during the first motion phase and moving said control link forwardly to raise said leg-rest structure, the extension being immovable relative to the carrier member and seat during the second motion phase, whereby the leg-rest is retained in extended position.

4. A multiple position reclining chair according to claim 3 in which said extension is on the front guide link.

5. A multiple position reclining chair according to claim 3 in which said extension is on the rear guide link.

6. A multiple position reclining chair according to claim 3 in which said leg-rest structure includes a bar carrying the leg-rest and pivotally mounted at its free end on the forward end of the carrier member, the control link being pivotally connected to said bar beneath the pivotal mount thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,952,376 Knabusch et a1. Mar. 27, 1934 2,604,141 Maurer July 22, 1952 2,903,045 Viall Sept. 8, 1959 2,948,113 Lorenz Dec. 22, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 213,084 Australia Aug. 2, 1956 807,708 Great Britain Jan. 21, 1959 

